Collapsible container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container having a bottom platform with end walls and at least one side frame pivotably connected thereto, a sidewall pivotably connected to the top edge of the side frame, and a top wall pivotably connected to the top of the container, the various walls of the container being pivotable about an end edge thereof so that said walls may be moved from a collapsed position to an erected position or vice versa, and locking means to ensure that all of the walls are locked in position when the container is closed in erected position.

United States Patent Wmsor 1 Jan. 18, 1972 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER R f r ni ed [72] Inventor: Robert Beck Winsor, Beaconsfield, UNITED STATESPATENTS Quebec, Canada 2,972,430 2/1961 Johnson ..220/l.5 [73] Assignee:IEC-Holden Ltd., Montreal, Quebec,

Canada Primary Examiner-Raphael H. Schwartz 221 Filed: Dec.22, 1969 swab[57] ABSTRACT [2]] Appl. No.: 886,978

A collapsible container having a bottom platform with end walls and atleast one side frame pivotably connected thereto, [52] U.S. Cl ..22 0/6v a sidewall ivotably connected to the top edge of the side frame, and atop wall pivotably connected to the top of the [51 l 7/26 container, thevarious walls of the container being pivotable [58] Field of Search..220/7, 6, 84, 1.5, 19; 217/15, about an end edge thereof so that saidwalls may be moved 217/47 from a collapsed position to an erectedposition or vice versa, and locking means to ensure that all of thewalls are locked in position when the container is closed in erectedposition.

16 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures mg 98 27 75 ms s- 2y I t 30 66 W I 4] l g62 l I ll PATENTEDJANIWEWZ SHEET 1 M 3 3,635,368

INVENTOR Robert Beck WINSDR A TTORNE Y j PATENTEU JAN] 8 1972 SHEET 2 OF3 l WENTOR Roberf Beqk WINSOR A TTORNEY PATENTED .mu 8 m2 SHEET 3 or 3.368

1,3 mm TOR Robert B eck WINSOR A TTORNEY COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERBACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of invention 7 The present inventionrelates to a collapsible container. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to a collapsible nondismantlable container to acollapsible both top or side loading.

2. Description of Prior Art 7 As is well known, containerization in seaand land transportation is gaining more and more acceptance. Normally,such containers are simply boxes which can be-handled by speciallydesigned equipment and transferred from a flatcar to a truck or to aship or vice versa without requiring unloading of its contents. However,none of these six-sided containers are easily collapsible while stillremaining in one piece. Furthermore, none of the present one-piececontainers permit a selection of either top or side loading.

As is well known, it is sometimes desirable to load a container eitherfrom the top or the side. It is also important in some instances for thecontainer to be collapsible for storage or during return shipment. It isalso very important that when the container is collapsed or erected,there be no loose pieces that may be left behind and thereby lost ordisplaced.

Prior to the present invention, no one had been able to provide a devicehaving the above characteristics.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is thus the main object of the present inventionto provide a collapsible side or top loading container.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a container having BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Further features, objects and advantages will beevident from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container;

FIG. 1A is a section along the line lA-IA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a side frame forming part of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container partly erected;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the collapsed container;

FIG. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the opposite side of thecontainer;

FIG. 8 is a partial isometric view showing the pivotable mounting of thetop and sidewalls to the top bar of the frame together with the cammingpin;

FIG. 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the top wall in openposition and the sidewall in the disengaged position;

FIG. 1 1 is a section (with parts omitted) showing the pivotal movementof the sidewall relative to the post of the side frame; and

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the hasp and locking mechanism for thecontainer.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, thecontainer 10 has a bottom wall or platform 12 provided with suitablemeans for two-way forklift truck handling such as indicated at 14, apair of sidewalls l6, 18, a pair of end walls and 22, and a pair of topwalls 24 and 26. These walls are interconnected to the bottom platformby suitable pivotal connecting means to permit top or side loading aswell as knocking down to collapsed position. Locking means are alsoprovided to ensure proper erection and locking of the container .inerected closed position, as will be described in more detailhereinbelow.

The sidewalls l6 and 18 and top walls 24 and 26 are each pivotablyconnected on a rod 28 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) by means of hinges 29 and 31respectively. The hinge 29 permits sliding motion as well as pivotingmotion of the walls 16 or 18 relative to the rod 28. The rod 28 extendsbetween a pair of comerposts 30 and forms with these two comerposts aside frame designated at 32 (see FIG. 3). ln theillustrated arrangement,there is a side frame 32 on each side ofthe container and these sideframes are substantially identical with several minor exceptions as willbe described hereinbelow and for this reason only one side frame hasbeen described indetail. Corresponding parts of the other side framehave been indicated by the same number followed by a prime The posts 30have a projecting leg 34 at their lower end (see FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) whichterminates in an upward projection 36 through which a pivot pin 38pivotably connects each post 30 of the frame 32 to the platform 12. Acomparison of FIGS. 3, 6 and 7 illustrates that the leg 34 is shorterthan the leg 34. This difference in length permits the frame 32' andside and top walls 18 and 26 to be folded over and still lay parallel tothe side frame 32 and side and top walls 16 and 24 when the container iscollapsed.

Each of the corner posts 30 or 30' has a fork at its upper end formed byan arm 40 projecting inward from the post 30 (30') in the same plane asthe post and having a section 42 substantially parallel to the post 30(30). A rod 44 interconnects the sections 42 with the posts 30 (30') andforms a connection point for hoisting of the containers. Similarconnection points may be provided on the bottom wall for housing thecollapsed container. U

A cam track 46 is cut into the inner surface of each of the arm sections42 surrounding the rod 28. These cam tracks 46 have a substantiallycircular section' 48 at least partially surrounding the rod 28 andopening into a vertical section 50 below the rod 28 (see FIGS. 3, l0 andI1).

Adjacent each end hinge 29 on the walls 16 and 18 are plates 52 each ofwhich has a laterally, projecting pin 54. These pins 54 are receivedwithin and guided by the cam track 46 to control the movement of thesidewalls l6 and 18 as will be described hereinbelow.

At each end of the bottom platform 12 is an upright projection 58 onwhich the end walls 20 and 22 are pivotably mounted by suitable hingessuch as those indicated at 60. The height of the uprights 58 permits thewalls l6, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 to be folded over with each wall layingsubstantially parallel to the platform 12.

Having now described the pivotable interconnections between the bottomplatform and frames 32, 32' and end walls 20 and 22 and between thesidewalls l6 and 18 and top walls 24 and 26 and the frames 32, 32', thelocking connections ensuring that the container is locked when inerected position will now be described.

The end walls 20 and 22 each have side rails 62 at opposite side edgesthereof. These side rails 62 are open channels opening toward thecontainer and are adapted to receive the posts 30 or 30 of the frames32, 32' when the frames 32, 32' and the walls 20 and 22 are in erectedposition substantially perpendicular to the bottom platform 12 (seeFIGS. 1 and 4). In the top rails 70 at opposite sides of each of the endwalls 20 and 22 is a locking bolt 64 (see FIGS. 1 and 1A) each having amanipulating handle 66 projecting through a slot 68 in the top rail 70of the walls 20 and 22. Each bar 64 is slidably held on the rail 70 bybottom retainers 72'and is adapted to be slid through a hole 74 in a legof the channel 62 and into a hole 76 in each of the posts 30 and 30'.

Each of the handles 66 is in the form of a round rod projectingsubstantially parallel to the plane of the wall 20 or 22 ie, vertical.The top walls 24 and 26 are each provided with a pair of plates 78 eachhaving a hole 30 adapted to receive one of the handles 66 when the tops24 and 26 are closed. The size of the holes 80'are just sufficientlylarge to receive the handles 66 and they are located to align with thehandles 66 when the bolts are locked. Thus, the bolts 64 must be inlocking position before the handles 66 will align with the holes 80 topermit closing of the top walls 24 or 26.

Each of the sidewalls l6 and 18 is provided along its bottom edge with aplurality of downwardly projecting pins 82 (see FIG. which pins areadapted to cooperate with holes 83 formed in the platform 12. When thepins 82 are within the holes 83, the walls 16 and/or 18 are locked inposition for reasons that will become more apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

A further locking mechanism, preventing the pins 82 from being liftedfrom the holes 83 when the container is closed, is provided by the camtrack 46, the section 50 of which requires that the walls 16 or 18 belifted vertically and by cooperation of bars 84 connecting the hinges 31with top walls 24 or 26 and flanges 86 on sidewalls 16 or 18 (see FIGS.8 or 9). Only when the top walls 24 or 26 is not locked, can thesidewalls 16 or 18 be lifted vertically to permit opening since,otherwise, the flanges 86 engage with the bars 84 and prevent lifting ofthe walls 16 and 18 to clear the pins 82 from the holes 83. There is,however, sufficient give in the system to permit the sidewalls 16 and 18to be swung and by its momentum displace the bars 84 sufficiently topermit the walls 16 and 18 to fall into position with the pins 82received in the holes 83 in final closing of the container.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 12, the locking mechanism for the top walls24 and 26 and thus for the container will be described. As in evident,the walls 2 and 26 terminate in flanges 88 and 90 respectively (see FIG.12). The flange 88 has a plurality of spaced projecting lugs 92 whichoverlap the flange 90 and wall 26 and terminate in a locking rodreceiving bearings 94 which slidably receive a pair of locking rods 96.The free ends 98 of the rods 96 projecting from the last bearing 94 areadapted to be received in suitable apertures 100 in alignment lugs 102projecting up from the top of the end walls 20 and 22.

The opposite ends of the rods 92 are formed into handle members 104 bybending the ends of the rods about 90. The rods 96 can be manipulated toinsert or free the ends 98 from the apertures 100 to close or open thecontainer. The handle members 104 also cooperate with a locking hasp 106pivotably mounted on top wall 24 and which has a pair of laterallycurved end flanges 108 which are adapted to receive the handles 104 whenand only when the rods 96 are in closed position with their ends 98 inthe aperture 100. Thus, only when the rods 96 are slid into closedposition, may the hasp 106 be closed and the hook 110 passes through theslot 112 in the hasp 106 and a lock 114 (see FIG. 1) passes through thehook 110 to lock the container closed.

To erect the container 10, the end walls 20 and 22 are pivoted fromcollapsed position indicated in FIG. 5 through about 180 to the positionindicated in FIG. 4 and the frame members 32, 32' together with the sideand top walls 16, 24 and 18, 26 respectively are pivoted about pivotpins 36, 36 into a vertical erected position substantially perpendicularto the bottom platform 12 as shown in FIG. 4. Next, the end walls 20 and22 are pivoted to a vertical erected position shown in FIG. 1 with thechannels 62 on the sides of the end walls 20 and 22 engaging the posts30, 30' of the frames 32, 32' and holding them in erected position. Thebolts 64 are then slid into the apertures 76 in the posts 30, 30 to lockthe frames 32, 32' and the walls 20, 22 in erected position. If thecontainer is to be loaded from the top, the pins 82 at the bottom of thewalls 16 and 18 are inserted in the holes 83 in the platform 12 tomaintain the walls 16 and 18 in erected position and after filling, thetop wall 26 and then 24 are pivoted from the open position of FIG. 4 tothe closed position of FIG. 1. These walls 26 and 24 can only be closedif the handles 66 are in alignment with the apertures 80 in the plates78. With the walls 24 and 26 closed, the locking bolts 64 are locked inposition by cooperationof the handles 66 with the apertures 80. Thesidewalls l6 and 18 are locked by the flanges 86 engaging the bars 84and obstructing vertical movement of the sidewalls, the top panels 24and 26 are locked by sliding the rods 96 into the holes 100 and closingthe hasp 106 so that the flanges 108 overlap the handles 104 of the rods96 preventing movement of the rods 96, and finally the container islocked by inserting the lock 114 through the hook 110 and closing thelock.

It is apparent from the above that the erecting and collapsingoperations must be individually completed properly before the nextoperation can be completed and it is visually obvious to the operatorthat any operation is not properly complete.

If the container is to be side loaded, the sidewall 16 or 18 throughwhich the container is to be loaded is lifted to open position, i.e.,the pins 82 are not inserted in the holes 83 but the container otherwiseis completely erected as described above. After the container has beenerected, the top wall cooperating with the sidewall on the side throughwhich the container is to be filled, say the top wall 24 for sidewall 16will be pivoted to lie vertically beside wall 16. Then sidewall 16 willbe lifted to disengage pins 82 and will be pivoted with its pin 54 incam track 46 to the open position as illustrated in FIG. 11. Thecontainer then may be filled and the wall 16 swung and by its momentummoving the wall into vertical position so that the pin 54 may slide downthe vertical section 50 of the cam track 46 and the pins 82 on thebottom of the sidewall slid into the apertures 83 in the bottom platform12.

The container is collapsed by substantially the reverse procedure tothat described above. First, the lock 114 and hasp 106 are opened andthe rods 96 slid from the apertures 100. Next, the top walls 24 and 28are pivoted through to 270 to a position substantially parallel with thewalls 16 and 18 respectively (see FIGS. 4, 9 or 10) thereby freeing thehandle 66 of the locking bolt 64 so that the bolt 64 can be slid fromthe aperture 76 in the posts 30, 30 and the walls 20, 22 lowered through90 to the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the posts 30, 30' are freefrom channels 62. The frames 32, 32' together with the walls 16 and 24and 18 and 26 respectively are stable in the vertical position becausethe center of gravity of these frames and walls are laterally spacedoutside of the pivot pins 36, 38' and the legs 34, 34' rest against thefloor or other suitable supporting structure such as flanges (not shown)projecting from the bottom of uprights 58. Next, the frame 32 having theshorter legs 34 together with the walls 16 and 24 are pivoted about thepins 38 so that the wall 16 is in face-to-face relationship with theplatform 12 (see the full and dotted-line positions in FIG. 6). Next,the frame 32 having the longer legs 34' together with the walls 18 and26 are pivoted about pivot pins 38 to move the wall 18 intosubstantially face-to-face relationship with the wall 24 (see full anddotted-line positions in FIG. 6) and, finally, the walls 20 and 22' arefolded over onto the walls 26 in substantially face-toface relationshipwith the wall 26 to a collapsed position as shown in FIG. 5.

For stacking, when the containers are erected, the bosses 102 arereceived in suitable apertures (not shown) in the bottom platform 12.Similar bosses 122 shown in FIG. 5 are provided on the underside of thetop 26 to cooperate with said apertures (not shown) for stacking thecontainers when collapsed or a combination of collapsed and erectedcontainers. These bosses 122 project through apertures in the endwalls20 and 22 when the container is in collapsed position (FIG. 5).When the container is erected, these bosses 122 project downward intothe container immediately adjacent the rails 70 at the top of the endwalls 20 and 22 thereby not interfering with the loading. Preferably,sleeves will be provided on the tops of the end walls 20 and 22 toreceive the bosses 122 and cooperate with these bosses to rigidify thecontainer when erected.

Modifications may be made to the described invention without departingfrom the spirit of same as defined in the apl pended claims. Forexample, in place of one of the frames 30 or 32", one of the sidewallsmay be pivotably connected to the bottom wall. This, of course, wouldlimit loading from only the other side of the container. Similarly, aunitary top wall connected to only one side frame or sidewall couldreplace the pair of sidewalls shown and still permit top loading. Evenfurther modifications will be evident to those skilled in the art.

lclaim:

l. A container comprising a bottom platform, end walls pivoted to saidbottom platform, a side frame, means pivotably connecting said sideframe to said bottom platform, a sidewall, means pivotably connectingsaid sidewall to said side frame along an edge of' said side frameremote from said means pivotably connecting said side frame to saidbottom platform,

and means on said end walls cooperating with said frame to hold saidside frame in erected position.

2. A container as defined in claim 1, further comprising a top wallpivotably connected to said side frame along said edge.

3. A container as defined in claim 2, wherein said means pivotablyconnecting said sidewall to said side frame also permits sliding motionbetween sidewall and said side frame, projections on said sidewall,apertures in said bottom platformadapted to receive said projectionswhen said sidewall is in an erected position, and means on said sidewalland said top wall for preventing movement of said projections out ofsaid apertures when said top wall is in a closed position. I

4. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein said side frame includes apair of spaced cornerposts and a rod interconnecting said cornerpostsalong said edge of said frame.

5. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein said means on said endwalls cooperating with said side frame include open channels adapted toembrace said cornerposts.

6. A container as defined in claim 5, wherein said means on said endwalls cooperating with said side frame further includes a locking bolthaving a projecting handle, a hole in each of said posts, each saidlocking bolt engaging in said hole when said bolt is in locked position.

7. A container is defined in claim 6, further comprising an aperture insaid top wall adapted to receive said handle of said locking bolt, saidaperture in said top wall being located and being of a size to receivesaid handle only when said bolt is in said locked position.

8. A container as defined in claim 7, further comprising a 9. Acontainer comprising a bottom wall, a pair of end walls pivoted to saidbottom platform, a pair of side frames, means pivotably connecting eachof said side frames to said bottom lockingrod on said top wall engagingan aperture in one of said end walls to lock said container in closedposition.

platform, a pair of sidewalls, means pivotably connecting one of saidsidewalls to each of said frames along an edge of a respective sideframe remote from said means pivotably connecting said side frames tosaid bottom platform, and means on said end walls cooperating with saidside frames to hold said side frames in erected position.

10. A container as defined in claim 9, further comprising a pair of topwalls, means pivotably connecting one of said top walls to each of saidside frames along said edge.

11. A container as defined in claim 10, wherein said means pivotablyconnecting said sidewalls to said side frames also permits slidingmovement between each said sidewalls and its respective side frame,projections on each of said sidewalls, apertures in said bottom platformadapted to receive said projections when said sidewalls are in anerected position, and means on said sidewalls and said top wallspreventing movement of said projections out of said apertures when saidtop walls are in closed position.

12. A container as defined in' claim 11, wherein said side frames eachinclude a pair of spaced cornerposts and a rod interconnecting saidcornerposts along said edges of said frames.

13. A container as defined in claim 12, wherein said means on said endwalls cooperating with said side frames includes an open-ended embracineach said come 0st.

14. A container as efined in claim 1 wherein said means on said endwalls cooperating with said side frames further include locking boltseach having a projecting handle, a hole in each said post adapted toreceive a locking bolt, said locking bolts engaging in said holes whensaid bolts are in locked position.

15. A container as defined in claim 14, further comprising apertures ineach said top wall adapted to receive one of said handles of saidlocking bolts, said apertures in said top wall being located and beingof a size to receive said handles only when said bolts are in saidlocked position.

16. A container as defined in claim 15, further comprising a pair oflocking rods slidably mounted on one of said top walls, and adapted tooverlie the other of said top walls when said top walls are in closedposition, and apertures in said end walls adapted to receive saidlocking rods when said locking rods are moved to locked position.

1. A container comprising a bottom platform, end walls pivoted to saidbottom platform, a side frame, means pivotably connecting said sideframe to said bottom platform, a sidewall, means pivotably connectingsaid sidewall to said side frame along an edge of said side frame remotefrom said means pivotably connecting said side frame to said bottomplatform, and means on said end walls cooperating with said frame tohold said side frame in erected position.
 2. A container as defined inclaim 1, further comprising a top wall pivotably connected to said sideframe along said edge.
 3. A container as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid means pivotably connecting said sidewall to said side frame alsopermits sliding motion between sidewall and said side frame, projectionson said sidewall, apertures in said bottom platform adapted to receivesaid projections when said sidewall is in an erected position, and meanson said sidewall and said top wall for preventing movement of saidprojections out of said apertures when said top wall is in a closedposition.
 4. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein said side frameincludes a pair of spaced cornerposts and a rod interconnecting saidcornerposts along said edge of said frame.
 5. A container as defined inclaim 4, wherein said means on said end walls cooperating with said sideframe include open channels adapted to embrace said cornerposts.
 6. Acontainer as defined in claim 5, wherein said means on said end wallscooperating with said side frame further includes a locking bolt havinga projecting handle, a hole in each of said posts, each said lockingbolt engaging in said hole when said bolt is in locked position.
 7. Acontainer is defined in claim 6, further comprising an aperture in saidtop wall adapted to receive said handle of said locking bolt, saidaperture in said top wall being located and being of a size to receivesaid handle only when said bolt is in said locked positIon.
 8. Acontainer as defined in claim 7, further comprising a locking rod onsaid top wall engaging an aperture in one of said end walls to lock saidcontainer in closed position.
 9. A container comprising a bottom wall, apair of end walls pivoted to said bottom platform, a pair of sideframes, means pivotably connecting each of said side frames to saidbottom platform, a pair of sidewalls, means pivotably connecting one ofsaid sidewalls to each of said frames along an edge of a respective sideframe remote from said means pivotably connecting said side frames tosaid bottom platform, and means on said end walls cooperating with saidside frames to hold said side frames in erected position.
 10. Acontainer as defined in claim 9, further comprising a pair of top walls,means pivotably connecting one of said top walls to each of said sideframes along said edge.
 11. A container as defined in claim 10, whereinsaid means pivotably connecting said sidewalls to said side frames alsopermits sliding movement between each said sidewalls and its respectiveside frame, projections on each of said sidewalls, apertures in saidbottom platform adapted to receive said projections when said sidewallsare in an erected position, and means on said sidewalls and said topwalls preventing movement of said projections out of said apertures whensaid top walls are in closed position.
 12. A container as defined inclaim 11, wherein said side frames each include a pair of spacedcornerposts and a rod interconnecting said cornerposts along said edgesof said frames.
 13. A container as defined in claim 12, wherein saidmeans on said end walls cooperating with said side frames includes anopen-ended embracing each said cornerpost.
 14. A container as defined inclaim 13, wherein said means on said end walls cooperating with saidside frames further include locking bolts each having a projectinghandle, a hole in each said post adapted to receive a locking bolt, saidlocking bolts engaging in said holes when said bolts are in lockedposition.
 15. A container as defined in claim 14, further comprisingapertures in each said top wall adapted to receive one of said handlesof said locking bolts, said apertures in said top wall being located andbeing of a size to receive said handles only when said bolts are in saidlocked position.
 16. A container as defined in claim 15, furthercomprising a pair of locking rods slidably mounted on one of said topwalls, and adapted to overlie the other of said top walls when said topwalls are in closed position, and apertures in said end walls adapted toreceive said locking rods when said locking rods are moved to lockedposition.